Catalog Archive
Auction 124, Lot 561

"Tab. VI. Europae Totam Italiam ob Oculos Ponens", Ptolemy/Mercator

Subject: Italy

Period: 1730 (published)

Publication: Claudii Ptolemaei's Atlas Tabulae geographicae Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.8 x 13.4 inches
47.8 x 34 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This crisply engraved Ptolemaic map covers Italy and Corsica with part of Sardina and Sicily. There are rope-like mountains, prominent rivers, and ancient place names. An interesting sea monster appears to be a cross between a turtle and a flying fish. Mercator originally published this map in his 1578 edition of Ptolemy's great Geography. Although he is most renowned today for the projection he popularized and for first using the term atlas for a collection of maps, he devoted much of his life to his Ptolemaic maps. The maps were beautifully engraved as nearly as possible to their original form and embellished with fine cartouches.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara, (Nordenskiold-2) #235-24.

Condition: B

There are several ink notations in the map.

Estimate: $300 - $350

Sold for: $325

Closed on 5/7/2008

Archived